Prairie Liberalism

Saskatchewan has a strong history of creative and innovative people that is being lost in the scramble to focus only on natural resources and big government. Prosperity can only be sustained if we foster Saskatchewan’s enterprising spirit, for it will be the communities with the greatest entrepreneurs that will be the most successful in the long run.

I believe in creating an entrepreneurial culture- notjust an entrepreneurial business culture- but a culture where individuals have equal opportunity to identify, develop, and use their individual potential in an entrepreneurial way.  This should focus on innovative and creative potential- not only productive potential.

We are all entitled to 12 intensive years of highly structured and narrow education but only a very short time to find our life direction.  Every child in Saskatchewan should be free to find their special strength or talent and then have the opportunity to use it.  Many people do not have the tools to pursue their strength or talent, or at least know where, how, or what the opportunity is.

We must place a high priority on finding our creative entrepreneurs- our creative business entrepreneurs, our arts and culture entrepreneurs, and our social entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurship is not only about business- it’s about people and their special skills, talents, ideas, and the ability to develop that.   

It did not take very long for me to find my passion through my work in economic development.  I quickly developed an enthusiasm for the spirit of opportunity, risk taking, and personal initiative, and have seen first hand the astonishing effect this spirit has on an individual and a community.

The wide open prairie sky has inspired generations to dream of a bigger future and the freedom to create it.  When my great, great- grandparents settled in this province over a hundred years ago, they did so with little more than a dream, innovative spirit, and the fortitude to create a new life for themselves, their families, their children, and ultimately their descendents.  They did not wait for direction from a distant government; they exercised their personal and economic freedom to turn their dreams into a reality. 

These are the values on which our province was founded and thrived.  Alas, we have strayed far from the personal freedom, initiative, and work ethic that built this province.  The current orgy of public spending and public enterprise combined with a growing dependence on natural resources threatens to drown Saskatchewan’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit once the current boom subsides.

Government should not try to be all things to all people- its role is to ensure equality of opportunity for individuals and to promote personal empowerment.  As liberals we have a tremendous social conscience and seek to assist those who need it through no fault of their own.  At the same time we believe in personal freedom and initiative and that we, as individuals, are the best judges of our own welfare.

Poverty is a threat to personal liberty and in this new era in our history, we must ensure that every person can exercise their personal and economic freedom. This freedom is not possible without the appropriate tools and opportunity.  When individuals seek to improve their own lives, then it is their responsibility to use the tools they’ve been given to do so.